Union Pulse: An Interview with Singer/Songwriter James Tristan Redding

Who are Union Pulses Band Members?
James Tristan Redding - vocals and guitar, 24 years old
Brian Henry Eckert - bass guitar and vocals, 25 years old
Jed Tyrone Hanson - drumset and vocals, 23 years old

How did Union Pulse Begin?
James - "As a freshman in college, majoring in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I needed to make music. I needed to find other people with whom I could record and perform, and I needed to push as hard as I could to make artistic progress in spite of the inevitable setbacks which ended up destroying the bands I had in high school (and for that matter, many bands, young or old).

I actually wasn't the band's first singer, thought I've written every note and every word of the band's material. I met my drummer through a mutual friend in the college dorms, my best friend was willing to take the heat for me and be the band's frontman and singer, and for lack of finding any other musicians with half a brain, another good friend of mine learned to play bass in order to join the band.

The material is a composite of some things I wrote in high school, a lot of what I wrote in college, and everything I've written since then. Since those first days practicing between basements and dorm rooms, I've seen a handful of bassists, and a real assortment of drummers, join and then quit the band -- whether it was as brief as a single performance, or as developed as the recording of an entire album and its subsequent tour.

The names of those musicians do not matter, but it is with great pleasure that I introduce my two best friends -- Jed Hanson and Brian Eckert, my drummer and bassist. Hanson and Eckert have each been with me for longer than any other musician, with the exception of Randy Franzen, the band's first drummer and cofounder. They are now the heart and soul of Union Pulse, and any energy I find within myself, these days, is accessed directly through them."

Where did the name Union Pulse come from?
James - "Union Pulse came from a sign above the automatic teller machine in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Credit Union. In college, when I started the band, I worked nights as a janitor to cover the band's expenses, in addition to my own. Every payday, I would walk the check right over to the Union and deposit it into the automatic teller machine, because the bank's regular offices closed long before I got off work.

The band's first singer, Johnny Phoenix, wanted to name the band ATM, but the name was ruled out -- along with Story, Fortunate Fools, and several others."

Where does Union Pulses unique sound come from? Who writes your material?
James - "Our music is about everything in my heart and my head, most often the intangible. I tend to document my past and present, probably in an effort to understand my own behavior and protect my future self against the same mistakes. I've written every note and every word of our first three studio albums, and the material we're working on for the next record is written by me but arranged specifically with Jed and Brian in mind. But more importantly, my boys have both been working on their own tunes, and what I've heard is very good. I have my fingers crossed that, once I'm all burnt-out and I have no more ideas left, they'll take over! "

What is the messages behind Union Pulse's music?
James - "The message behind our music is one of constant growth, often love, sometimes pain, and always hope. As we grow individually, emotionally, intellectually, our music also matures. Lyrics document our lives, and tell a story of youth slowly maturing."

Union Pulse has released three albums. What are the names of your first three albums?
2003's Eine Kleine Rockmusik
2005's I Hate You. You Always Do This.
2007's Angel on a Wire

Where can I buy a Union Pulse cd?
James - "Our most recent two records are available in hard-copy (printed, shrink-wrapped Compact Disc) at Atomic Records in Milwaukee, B-Sides in Madison, CD Warehouse in Minneapolis, and online at www.CDbaby.com (as well as every live performance). The first album is, regrettably, out of print. But all of the music we've recorded, including the hard-to-find first album, is available for digital download on iTunes (and several other similar websites)."

Union Pulse tours much of the midwest, but you all have "regular day jobs"? What do you guys do for work?
James - "Brian and I both have day jobs, though I would hardly call them regular. I'm a pop-psychologist in the form of a cashier at a local corner store, and my bassist is -- get this -- a BIKE MESSENGER. He's absolutely insane. I love him. Jed, my drummer, is attending a technical school (focusing on culinary arts) after a several-year break from school. He also works nights, part time, as a very talented cook at an upscale restaurant. "

How would you describe success?
James - "I would describe success as working hard to share my music with the world, whether or not I have the means to make the world listen. Jed defines success as financial comfort, not excess, and more importantly as the ability to reach our music to a large audience. Brian gave me a funny look, and said Happiness Is A Warm Gun (I don't think he realizes the Beatles already used that one)."

Thanks for your time, James. Is there anything else you would like your fans to know?
Our web site is www.UnionPulseOnline.com and we can also be found on My Space www.MySpace.com/unionpulse.